Journal of Trauma & Treatment

Thoracoscopy and Massive Hemothorax in Hemodynamically Stable Patients

Abstract

Rodolfo Valentin B, Bernardo Alfonso B and Sergio G

Background: This study compares patient operated by thoracoscopy and thoracotomy in patients with
penetrating chest wounds with massive hemothorax, hemodynamically stable.
Materials and methods: Retrospective study Cross sectional, type III level of evidence.45 patients were included in the study. In 24 of them were approached by thoracoscopy and the remaining 21 by thoracotomy and compared morbidity, hospital stay, operative time, complications and conversion rate in patients with penetrating trauma massive hemothorax managed by thoracotomy hemodynamically stable with those managed by thoracoscopy during the period from September 1, 2008 until September 30, 2011 operated by the Department of General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery Hospital Santa Clara, Bogota, Colombia.
Results: Thoracoscopy is associated with reduced blood loss, less operative time, shorter hospital stay by filing a conversion rate of 12.5% video assisted surgery procedures and a lower rate of complications.
Conclusions: Thoracoscopy represents a therapeutic option and a safe approach in the right hands to the chest injured patients with massive hemothorax, hemodynamically stable.